• Events
  • News
  • Directory
  • Infinite Campus
    • About Us
    • Annual Notices
    • Data and Reports
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Enrollment and Registration
    • School Board
    • Strategic Planning
    • Title IX
    • Superintendent
    • Teaching and Learning
    • Business Services
    • Communications
    • Facilities
    • Human Resources
    • Special Education
    • Technology Services
    • Ames High School
    • Ames Middle School
    • Edwards Elementary
    • Fellows Elementary
    • Meeker Elementary
    • Mitchell Elementary
    • Sawyer Elementary
    • Northwood Preschool Center
    • Ames CSD Online Store
    • Digital Backpack
    • Handbooks
    • Request An Interpreter
    • School Fees
    • School Hours
    • School Nutrition
    • School Safety, Alerts, and Weather Procedures
    • School Supply Lists
    • Student Services
    • Transportation
    • Get Involved
    • Gifts to the District
    • Research Request
    • Submit An Event To Digital Backpack
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Employee Benefits Information Site
    • Employee Information and Self-Service Forms
    • Facilities Scheduling for Staff
    • Frontline/Absence Management
    • Infinite Campus: Staff & Teacher Portal
    • Production Services
    • Simbli Meetings and Agendas
    • Teacher Leadership
    • Teacher Quality Site
2005 24th St.
Ames, IA 50010
(515) 268-6600
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Parents and Students
  • Ames CSD Online Store
  • Digital Backpack
  • Handbooks
  • Request An Interpreter
  • School Fees
  • School Hours
  • School Nutrition
    • Menus and Meal Prices
    • School Nutrition Frequently Asked Questions
  • School Safety, Alerts, and Weather Procedures
    • School Safety
      • ALICE Frequently Asked Questions
      • Anonymous Alerts
      • Terms and Procedures
      • Visitor Safety
      • What Parents Should Do In A School Emergency
    • Parent Alerts
      • Request Infinite Campus Username or Password
    • Weather Delays, Cancellations, or Early Dismissals
  • School Supply Lists
  • Student Services
    • Health and Well-Being
      • School Nurses
      • Health Forms
      • Report A Student Absence
    • Homeless Student Services
    • HOPE Pantry
      • Donate to the HOPE Pantry
    • Section 504
  • Transportation
All About Ames CSD

4,400+

students attend our schools.

  1. Home
  2. Parents and Students
  3. School Nutrition

School Nutrition

Ames Community School District encourages all students to participate in the school breakfast and lunch program. The nutritious meals served promote better student learning. All fees pertaining to meals (breakfast and/or lunch) and any a la carte items that the student purchases, or consumes, shall be the responsibility of the student’s parents/guardians.

Below is a brief explanation of the meal and snack policy. Full policies are in Series 700 under School Food Services.

  • Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
  • Students with an accrued negative balance who do not qualify for free meals shall be allowed to charge a reimbursable meal (as defined by the USDA). However, they must pay for a la carte items or extra milk at the time of purchase.
  • Students who wish to purchase any extra items, regardless of their eligibility status or account balance, are required to have sufficient funds in their meal account prior to the purchase or they must pay with cash at the time of purchase.

Any charges incurred, until a new application is approved, are the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) and must be paid.

Students who qualify for free/reduced meals will be charged and deemed responsible for any extra purchases made. This includes, but is not limited to, single milks purchased with a meal brought from home.

The free/reduced applications are available throughout the year and must be completed EACH school year. We encourage everyone to fill out an application, even if you don’t think you will qualify.

School Meal and Fee Assistance

It is the Ames Community School District’s policy to accept responsibility for providing free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches to eligible students in the schools under its jurisdiction according to the guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The District may also reduce or waive fees based on certain eligibility criteria.

In general, the District will waive fees for students who meet the financial eligibility criteria for free school meals, or the Family Investment Program (FIP), or are eligible for transportation assistance or in foster care. Students who qualify for reduced-price school meals may have their school fees reduced by 50%.

  • Fee waiver applications are requested through the Online Registration Verification process that occurs annually.
  • Families may reapply for waived or reduced fees at any time their circumstances change.

Information about eligibility for free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches can be found below. Applications are also available at each building office.

Have questions about meal assistance and how to apply? Visit our School Nutrition Frequently Asked Questions.

Lunch Hero

Lunch Hero is a program where anyone, parents and community members alike, can donate to negative lunch balances. These funds aid in paying down negative lunch balances across the District. Donations made online (debit or credit card) require an Infinite Campus account in order to donate. Cash and check donations can be made in person at the District Office.

Donate to Lunch Hero (Debit/Credit Card)

To provide lunch for a student for one month the cost is approximately $60.

Please know that the recipient field DOES NOT dictate where the money goes. This account is used across the entire District to help all accounts that are negative. At this time we cannot remove this field and it does require some sort of entry. If you are making a donation in honor of someone please feel free to put that name in the “Recipient” field. Otherwise, please just put in N/A.

Meal Assistance Forms 

How to Apply for Free and Reduced School Meals

Translations:

Arabic: How to Apply for Free and Reduced School Meals
Chinese: How to Apply for Free and Reduced School Meals
Spanish: How to Apply for Free and Reduced School Meals
Vietnamese: How to Apply for Free and Reduced School Meals

2022-2023 Application for Free & Reduced Price School Meals/Milk

Translations:

Arabic: Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk
Chinese: Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk
Spanish: Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk
Vietnamese: Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk

Information Letter for Meal Assistance Program 

Translations:

Arabic: Information Letter for Meal Assistance Program
Chinese: Information Letter for Meal Assistance Program 
Spanish: Information Letter for Meal Assistance Program
Vietnamese: Information Letter for Meal Assistance Program

Fee Waiver Statement

Translations:

Arabic: Fee Waiver Statement
Chinese: Fee Waiver Statement
Spanish: Fee Waiver Statement
Vietnamese: Fee Waiver Statement

Wellness Council

The District Wellness Council establishes and monitors wellness goals for nutrition education, nutrition promotion, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote student wellness. Members include students, staff, and community members.

If you would like to serve on the wellness council, contact Deb Milliken (information listed below).

Wellness Council Meeting Minutes December 6, 2022
Local Wellness Policy: Triennial Assessment
Local Wellness Policy Progress Report

If you have any questions, please contact:

Deb Milliken

Senior Accounting Specialist
District Office

  • Email Deb Milliken

Parents and Students
  • Ames CSD Online Store
  • Digital Backpack
  • Handbooks
  • Request An Interpreter
  • School Fees
  • School Hours
  • School Nutrition
    • Menus and Meal Prices
    • School Nutrition Frequently Asked Questions
  • School Safety, Alerts, and Weather Procedures
    • School Safety
      • ALICE Frequently Asked Questions
      • Anonymous Alerts
      • Terms and Procedures
      • Visitor Safety
      • What Parents Should Do In A School Emergency
    • Parent Alerts
      • Request Infinite Campus Username or Password
    • Weather Delays, Cancellations, or Early Dismissals
  • School Supply Lists
  • Student Services
    • Health and Well-Being
      • School Nurses
      • Health Forms
      • Report A Student Absence
    • Homeless Student Services
    • HOPE Pantry
      • Donate to the HOPE Pantry
    • Section 504
  • Transportation
All About Ames CSD

346

2022 graduates.

Call Us

515-268-6600

Visit

2005 24th St.
Ames, Iowa 50010
Get Directions

Reach Out

  • Staff Directory
  • School Board

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Website by Juicebox

  • Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
Back to top